Securing mechanism for swapper of electronic devices

ABSTRACT

The securing mechanism for swapper of electronic devices of this invention comprises: a casing provided with a plurality of supporting means to support a mother board; at least a group of surrounding ribs to surround outer peripheral of a swapper affixed to said mother board when said mother board is supported on said casing; and a guiding member to guide said swapper into space defined by said group of surrounding rib when said swapper enters into said space defined by said group of surrounding rib. With the securing mechanism of this invention, the swapper is firmly held by the securing mechanism when the mother board and the casing are assembled. Swing movement of the swapper and twist of the mother board will be generated during the plugging and unplugging activity of the mating connector of the swapper.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to securing mechanism for swapper ofelectronic devices, especially to securing mechanism for connector forelectricity or signal line of electronic devices.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

In all kinds of electronic devices such as personal computer, facsimilemachine, display, printer, digital camera, optical disc drive, cardreader, personal digital assistant and other devices that needs toconnected with electronic or computer equipments and power supply, avariety of connector is needed, such that the electronic devices mayconnect or communicate with external system. Nowadays the electronicdevices provide the function of “portability”. That is, the electronicdevices are not for use in one particular location but are brought toany place where it is connected with power a supply or external systemsthrough connectors attached to or provided in the electronic devices. Asa result, such connector shall ensure its normal functionality evenafter frequent and intensive swapping activities.

The conventional connector for electronic devices or other similarswapper member is provided and secured on the mother board of theelectronic device it belongs. The swapper on the one hand is soldered atits connecting pins onto the mother board and is secured to the motherboard with securing means such as screw, bolt, solder, jack etc. on theother hand.

With such a securing mechanism, the connecting pins and the securingmeans secure the swapper firmly to the mother board. However, due to thefact that the mother board is made of material with a certain level offlexibility and that electronic components and circuitry are provided onboth sides of the mother board, the swapper tends to swing during theplugging and unplugging activities of a mating connector of the swapper,even if the swapper is firmly secured to the mother board. Such pluggingand unplugging activities will loosen the securing means and shorten thelifetime of the swapper.

In addition, the plugging and unplugging activity does not only bringharms to the securing means but also damages the solder by bringingfracture to it. Furthermore, the mother board tends to twist during theplugging and unplugging activity of the swapper, whereby the securingmeans that secures the electronic components onto the mother board isloosened and the lifetime of the electronic components is shorten aswell.

It is thus necessary to provide a novel securing mechanism for swapperof electronic devices that strengthens the endurance of the swapper.

It is also necessary to provide a securing mechanism for swapper ofelectronic devices to firmly hold the swapper and to avoid swing of theswapper.

It is also necessary to provide a securing mechanism for swapper ofelectronic devices to avoid distortion of the mother board during theplugging and unplugging activity of the mating connector of the swapper.

OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION

The objective of this invention is to provide a novel securing mechanismfor swapper of electronic devices that strengthens the endurance of theswapper.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a securing mechanismfor swapper of electronic devices to firmly hold the swapper and toavoid swing of the swapper.

Another objective of this invention is to provide a securing mechanismfor swapper of electronic devices to avoid distortion of the motherboard during the plugging and unplugging activity of the matingconnector of the swapper.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

According to the present invention, the securing mechanism for swapperof electronic devices of this invention comprises: a casing providedwith a plurality of supporting means to support a mother board; at leasta group of surrounding ribs to surround outer peripheral of a swapperaffixed to said mother board when said mother board is supported on saidcasing; and a guiding member to guide said swapper into space defined bysaid group of surrounding rib when said swapper enters into said spacedefined by said group of surrounding rib. With the securing mechanism ofthis invention, the swapper is firmly held by the securing mechanismwhen the mother board and the casing are assembled. Swing movement ofthe swapper and twist of the mother board will be generated during theplugging and unplugging activity of the mating connector of the swapper.

These and other objectives and advantages of this invention may beclearly illustrated by the detailed description by referring to thedrawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of the securing mechanism for swapperof electronic devices of this invention.

FIG. 2 shows its side view.

FIG. 3 shows the cross-sectional view of the securing mechanism forswapper of electronic devices of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1 illustrates the structure of the securing mechanism for swapperof electronic devices of this invention and FIG. 2 shows its side view.

As shown in these figures, the securing mechanism for swapper ofelectronic devices of this invention is provided in a casing 1. Thecasing 1 has a side wall 2, on which a hole 3 is formed to allow a plugor a connector for power line or signal line (not shown) to enter intothe casing 1. The swapper 4 is affixed to a mother board 5 withconnecting pins (not shown) and securing means (not shown). The swapperas shown in these figures is a jack for power plug. Of course, othertypes of swapper, such as connectors and converters with all types ofcommunication interface are applicable to this invention.

The supporting means 6 is provided in the casing 1 to support the motherboard 5 when it is assembled with the casing 1. The supporting means 6as shown in these figures is screw. However, other supporting means suchas bolt, solder, adhesives, hinge etc. are also applicable. The numberof the securing means 6 is not limited in any aspect, as long as themother board 5 is firmly supported on the casing 1. Shown in thesefigure as also a plurality of ribs 7, 8, 9 surrounding the spacecorresponding to that occupied by the swapper 4 on the mother board 5.The space defined by the surrounding ribs 7, 8, 9 is preferably of thesame size and shape of the swapper 4, such that the ribs 7, 8, 9 form agroup of surrounding ribs to hold the swapper 4 when it enters into thespace, whereby no swing movement is generated during the plugging andunplugging activities of the mating connector of the swapper 4. On thesurrounding ribs 7 and 9, at the positions adjacent to the hole 3,provided is a V shape layout. The V shape layout functions as guidingmember to guide the swapper 4 into the space defined by the surroundingribs 7, 8, 9 when the mother board 5 is assembled to the casing 1,without any interference.

In addition, on the upper surface of the ribs 7 and 9 round recessions 7a, 9 a are formed to prevent interference of the swapper 4 by the ribs 7and 9, when the mother board 5 is assembled to the casing 1. Suchinterference preventing mechanism may be a simple recession or the like.

The securing mechanism for swapper of electronic devices as describedabove may firmly hold the swapper when the mother board 5 is assembledwith the casing 1, whereby no swing movement of the swapper 5 ortwisting movement of the mother board 5 is generated when the matingconnector (not shown) of the swapper 4 is plugged into or unplugged fromthe swapper 4. FIG. 3 shows the cross-sectional view of a part of thesecuring mechanism for swapper of electronic devices of this invention.As shown in this figure, the securing mechanism for swapper ofelectronic devices of this invention firmly holds the swapper inposition to prevent any damage to the swapper and the motherboard.

As the present invention has been shown and described with reference topreferred embodiments thereof, those skilled in the art will recognizethat the above and other changes may be made therein without departingform the spirit and scope of the invention.

1. Securing mechanism for swapper of electronic device, comprisingsecuring mechanism provided in casing of said electronic device, whichsecuring mechanism comprises: a plurality of supporting means to supporta mother board; at least one group of surrounding ribs to surround outerperipheral of a swapper provided on said mother board, when said motherboard is affixed to said casing; and a guiding member to guide saidswapper to enter into space defined by said surrounding ribs when saidmother board is affixed to said casing.
 2. The securing mechanism forswapper of electronic device according to claim 1, wherein said guidingmember is a V shape formed by said surrounding ribs.
 3. The securingmechanism for swapper of electronic device according to claim 1, whereinsaid guiding member is a recession formed on at least one of saidsurrounding ribs.
 4. The securing mechanism for swapper of electronicdevice according to claim 1, wherein said guiding member is a roundrecession formed on at least one of said surrounding ribs.